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FSU-Duke Notes: Bay’s Byas heading Blue Devils' defensive charge

Jordon Byas, shown earlier this season, is having a career year for Duke.

AP photo

By Brad Milner | News Herald Writer

Published: Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 10:57 PM.

TALLAHASSEE – Jordon Byas saved his best for last.

The Bay High School graduate is having his most productive season with Duke in his final campaign with the Blue Devils. The senior defensive back also is a full-time starter for the first time in his career, which began in 2009.

Byas appeared in his 41st career game on Saturday against Florida State and he made his 14th start, including sixth this season. He missed the first three games while recovering from knee surgery and he has shown no signs it’s hampered his progress.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder entered Saturday with a career-high 48 tackles, 21 solo and four for loss. He was second on the team in tackles despite missing games against FIU, Stanford and North Carolina Central and he was tied for fourth in tackles for loss. He also grabbed his first two career interceptions this season and posted double-digit tackles in three of five starts entering the contest with the Seminoles.

Byas had 40 tackles, 18 solo and two for loss, as a junior and compiled 48 stops in his first two seasons. He has started at least one game in each of his four seasons with highlights including a blocked punt against North Carolina in 2009 and a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown versus Virginia Tech earlier this season.

He finished Saturday with 11 tackles, which was second on the team.

- This was FSU’s 65th Homecoming game, with the Seminoles not hosting one in their inaugural year of 1947. FSU is 52-12-1 all time on Homecoming and hosted Duke for the fourth time in such an encounter. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher dropped his first two Homecoming games, 37-35 to North Carolina in 2010 when Dustin Hopkins missed two crucial field goals and 14-13 against Virginia last season.

The Bay High School graduate is having his most productive season with Duke in his final campaign with the Blue Devils. The senior defensive back also is a full-time starter for the first time in his career, which began in 2009.

Byas appeared in his 41st career game on Saturday against Florida State and he made his 14th start, including sixth this season. He missed the first three games while recovering from knee surgery and he has shown no signs it’s hampered his progress.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder entered Saturday with a career-high 48 tackles, 21 solo and four for loss. He was second on the team in tackles despite missing games against FIU, Stanford and North Carolina Central and he was tied for fourth in tackles for loss. He also grabbed his first two career interceptions this season and posted double-digit tackles in three of five starts entering the contest with the Seminoles.

Byas had 40 tackles, 18 solo and two for loss, as a junior and compiled 48 stops in his first two seasons. He has started at least one game in each of his four seasons with highlights including a blocked punt against North Carolina in 2009 and a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown versus Virginia Tech earlier this season.

He finished Saturday with 11 tackles, which was second on the team.

- This was FSU’s 65th Homecoming game, with the Seminoles not hosting one in their inaugural year of 1947. FSU is 52-12-1 all time on Homecoming and hosted Duke for the fourth time in such an encounter. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher dropped his first two Homecoming games, 37-35 to North Carolina in 2010 when Dustin Hopkins missed two crucial field goals and 14-13 against Virginia last season.

- Seminole Tribe of Florida President Tony Sanchez assisted FSU President Eric J. Barron in planting the flaming spear at the 50-yard line prior to the game. Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman James E. Billie joined Sanchez as grand marshals of the Homecoming parade on Friday.

- FSU holds the Atlantic Coast Conference’s second-longest winning streak (18 against Duke) over one opponent. Clemson is first with a 29-game winning streak over Virginia.

- Duke’s 6-2 start was the third-best in school history. Duke started 7-1 in 1960 and 1994, the latter the last time the Blue Devils were bowl-eligible prior to this year.

- The Blue Devils wear an “8” decal on their jerseys in honor of teammate Blair Holliday, who was injured in a watercraft accident July 4. Holliday spent a month at University of North Carolina Hospital before transferring to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. He was released Aug. 31, but continues to receive treatment at the Shepherd Center.

- Duke’s Max McCaffery brought in his first career reception for a first down on the Blue Devils’ first drive. He is the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, who played for the New York Giants, San Francisco and Denver.

- Tyler Hunter replaced Rashad Greene as the starting punt returner for FSU. He didn’t receive a chance to return the first punt, as it went out of bounds. He fielded the second return cleanly, cut left and raced down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown and a 14-0 FSU lead with 4:51 to play in the first quarter. He fielded his second return on the run and brought it back 18 yards, but a block in the back penalty negated much of the gallop. He also muffed a punt in the third quarter when the ball caromed off his helmet.

- Greene pulled in a career-long 71-yard reception from EJ Manuel on the Seminoles’ opening march for the game’s initial score.

- Hunter and Greene became the first pair of FSU players to return a punt for a score in the same season.

- Rodney Smith extended his consecutive games streak with at least one reception to 34 with a first-quarter catch on FSU’s second possession.

- FSU had 137 total yards and a 17-0 lead after one quarter. Duke amassed 65 yards and four first downs in the opening 15 minutes.

- Duke used three players at quarterback, starter Sean Renfree and backups Brandon Connette and Anthony Boone. The latter two ran more plays from the Wildcat with Boone attempting one pass that fell incomplete in the first half.

- FSU led 31-0 with 11:09 to play in the second quarter. Manuel had 182 yards on just four complete passes at the time.

- Duke scored its first touchdown late in the second quarter on a drive that was bolstered by two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Both penalties led to Duke players being taken off the field for injuries, including Renfree on a roughing-the-passer call on Tank Carradine.

- The Blue Devils’ first scoring drive encompassed 90 yards, which was the longest given up by FSU this season.

- FSU outgained Duke 283-157 in the first half. Smith and Greene had 77 and 71 yards receiving, respectively. Renfree was 13 of 21 for 92 yards before leaving the game on Carradine’s late hit.

- James Wilder Jr. scored his 10th touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run in the second quarter. He became the first FSU running back with at least 10 rushing touchdowns in a season since Jermaine Thomas in 2009.

- Ross Martin missed a 25-yard field goal for Duke in the third quarter to snap his consecutive made streak at 14.

- FSU had 101 yards rushing in the first half. It almost matched the total in the third quarter with 98.

- FSU’s Dustin Hopkins kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal to give FSU a 48-7 lead in the fourth quarter. It was the second-longest field goal in FSU history and he is now the ACC’s all-time leader with 81.